After a public lecture, Professor Dawkins was asked whether ''credulous'' media reporting and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's welcoming of last month's canonisation of Mary MacKillop as Australia's first Catholic saint were discouraging. Professor Dawkins replied that he did find it discouraging.

''The whole idea of creating saints, it's pure Monty Python,'' he said. ''They have to clock up two miracles. These are people we are supposed to take seriously.

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''When I'm accused, 'Why are you going after easy targets, the fundamentalist nutbags, why don't you take on the real theologians?', well, the real theologians like Pope Nazi believe in miracles.''

Pope Benedict XVI, formerly Joseph Ratzinger, was conscripted into Hitler Youth, as were all German boys, when he turned 14.

''It's just surreal and completely gives the lie to the claim that the sophisticated theologians should look down on fundamentalist wingnuts. They are all the same.''

Professor Dawkins's comments about Senator Fielding were reported by the ABC broadcaster Robyn Williams, who also addressed the convention yesterday.

"I can give you a devastating argument against religion in two words," Williams said in his introduction.

"Senator Fielding. Richard Dawkins said his IQ is lower than an earthworm, but I think earthworms are useful."

Dr Dawkins and Senator Fielding appeared on the ABC's Q&A program on Monday, and clashed over the senator's belief in creationism.

Professor Dawkins, the final speaker at the three-day convention, received a standing ovation from the audience of 2500 before and after his lecture on evolution and gratitude.

Atheist Foundation of Australia president David Nicholls said he was elated at the convention's success.

''This will give atheists the impetus to consider their vote next time they are in the polling booth, and will encourage secularist organisations throughout Australia.''

Roz, from Bellingen in northern NSW, said it had cost her $1000 to come for the weekend but she wouldn't have missed it for the world. She now planned to put bumper stickers on her car and stop ''pussyfooting around and being kind'' to believers.

Steve, of Murray Bridge, said he had enjoyed every minute. He said he had been the only atheist in a strong Lutheran community for 30 years, and it boosted his confidence to be part of a bigger group.

Anne-Marie, 29, of Preston, was a little disappointed. Some things had opened her eyes, she said, but she had hoped for more practical advice on how to make a difference in reducing religion.

Many speakers spent more time ridiculing religion than advancing an alternative vision, but the main speakers - Professor Dawkins, British philosopher A. C. Grayling, Australian philosopher Peter Singer on ethics without religion and Taslima Nasrin on her struggle for freedom as a former Bangladeshi Muslim - all delved deeper.

Rationalist Society of Australia president Ian Robinson said atheism was not just about reason but also passion and love, especially love of truth.

Broadcaster Phillip Adams and Melbourne ethicist Leslie Cannold urged atheists not to be too strident or fundamentalist as it could alienate moderate believers who shared their aims for a more secular society.

Melbourne atheist philosopher Tamas Pataki attracted little applause for suggesting the organised atheist movement was taking on the appearance of a religion ''with its priests, apostles and disciples, and this is the worst that could happen''.